Drilling rig base



Dec. 29, 1953 L. A. WHIPPLE, JR

DRILLING RIG BASE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 15, 1949 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 This "invention relates tofv a' .basetfor "ai drilling rigiand more particularly'to'^su"c"h'V abasehelving detachable interlocking connecting `,memberspermittin'gy the dismantlingA of the` base for`"trans` portation to and from a drilling site.l n

This invention contemplates alock'ing or latch'- ing mechanism interposed between two structural members" to facilitate connectingand" disconnecting@ the umembers' for assembly'y or disassembly.'

Broadly speak-ing, tliein'vention comprises: a pairof strcturalfmeinber's-built'up from I'jbeam or channel memb'ersor the like having suitable cross-braces and lateral. braces between'. which are.v disposed f a plurality. of. beams adaptedfr ready connection and .disconnection tothe'struc; tural members by. mean'softhe locking mechanism or clamp hereinafter described..

It is,` accordingly, oneaobject of this invention to facilitate the erection and dismantling of a movable base fora drilling rig by means of vthe detachable mechanism of this invention. It is a further object of this invention to provide such a basefor a drilling rig provided with avclamp'- ingl mechanism-Which maintains the jbasefin"l a rigid lockedcond-ition While-fbeingusedbutf-which can b`equickly and-easily detached. Tlese'f-a'nd otherf obj ectsand ladvanta'gesmf thiswinvention will beapparentfromthe annexed specification inl-which: v

Figure 1 is a plan view of a base embodyin the present invention showing conventional rotary and draw works mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a side View of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a reduced plan view of the device shown in Figure 1 with the draw works removed.

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective of one of the clamping members.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the invention is shown as including a pair of structural members each of which includes a top rail Ill, a bottom rail I I, up-standing vertical channels or rails I2 and braces I3. Each structural member also includes a plurality of other top rails I4, I5, I6 and I'I. Laterally extending end members I8 and I9 are shown across the top of the structural members and it will be understood that similar bottom lateral members, not shown, are provided. Thus, substantially, a pair of open framework boxes, indicated generally at A and B, are built up.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that theseopexr.z fr" evvcrlcf boxes.' may-:be constructed in any desired mannerifandfromany rmaterials readilyf available. f-

are formed' as shown.partieularlyfinlFigures-4 and'.y 5l 'of-y Lbeams v2 ILl having platesv 22 amxedflat each end? thereof o'which plateff22isian1extension 23;kr generally rectangular.Jinl form" and` having-J a.Y slot 24* extending@ vertically?therethrough. The slot'l 24f`may-bef1tapered; a'sshownFigure 4;- to receive alpini-140i?- Upon thelinnerisidesifof ,each of the-"inner toplpieces; adjacentfthe .point or' 'connectie "offl eachlofl'the amembers-tethere isf built 'up v'air''ect'anguiar. box: 25; Boxft 25 com- In the manufacturing of this device, it is of course necessary to attach the pins 35 and 36 by spot welding or the like after the frames 33 are mounted in the boxes 25.

It will be understood that each cross piece 20 has at each end thereof the configuration sho-Wn on the cross piece 20, of Figure 5, and there is for each such end a box 25 similar to the box 25, shown in Figure 5. The box 25 is attached to the I-beam or channel by Welding directly thereto, as shown.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown in phantom only the conventional rotary mechanism and draw Works mounted upon the portable base ofl this invention. When it is desired to erect the base, the structural members A and B are transported to the site and placed in position on previously leveled ground. The cross members 20 are then attached as follows. The beams are lowered into place with the members 23 extending into the slots 32 of the plates 29. The frame 33 is then moved forwardly so that the opening 34 surrounds the member 23 with the slot 24 disposed to the rear of the frame 33. The pins 40 are then inserted, thus clamping the members accedas 3 20 in the boxes 25. Similarly, when it is desired to dismantle the base, the cross members 20 are removed simply by driving out the pins 40, retracting the frames 33 and withdrawing the members 23 from the slots 32.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that there is provided by this invention a portable base for a drilling rig in which means are provided for quickly and readily attaching and detaching the cross pieces to and from the structural members and thus for quickly and readily assembling or disassembling the bases.

While there has been described what is at present considered a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that various changes and modications can be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A drilling rig support comprising a pair of `structural members: cross pieces connected with said structural members; each of said cross pieces having at each end thereof an extension; each extension having an opening therein; means on said structural members forming boxes each having a front wall and side walls; means forming an upwardly opening notch in each of said iront walls; said extensions each removably iitting Within one of said notches in said front walls; a rectangular open frame in each of said boxes; said extensions being received within said open frames with said open frames being slidably mounted on said extensions; each of said open frames having pins projecting laterally therefrom; means forming transverse slots in said side walls; said pins projecting through said slots; and keys removably fitting in said openings `having at each end thereof an extension; each `extension having an opening therein; means on said structural members forming boxes each having a front wall and side Walls; means forming an upwardly opening notch in each of said front Walls; said extensions each removably ilttlng within one of said notches in said front walls; a rectangular open frame in each of said boxes; said extensions being received within said open frames with said open frames being slidably mounted on said extensions; each of said open frames having pins projecting laterally therefrom; means forming transverse slots in said side walls; said pins projecting through said slots; and keys removably iitting in said openings in said extensions removably locking said extensions within said boxes, said open frames in locked position being held between said keys and said front walls, and said open frames being slidable upon said extensions upon removal of said keys to release said extensions from said boxes.

3. A support structure comprising a pair of parallel structural members, a cross beam interposed between said parallel structural members, said cross beam having an axial projection at each end thereof, each projection having an opening therein, a box structure secured to each of said structural members, each box structure having a front wall and side walls, means forming an upwardly opening notch in each front wall, each projection being received within one of said notches, an apertured part received within each box structure, each apertured part being received on the projection in telescopic relation, laterally projecting pins on each apertured part, means forming slots in the side walls of each box structure receiving said pins, and a key removably mounted in each opening in the projections for detachably securing said projection within one of said box structures, each apertured part being conned between one of said keys and one of said front walls.

LOUIS A. WHIPPLE, JR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,118,979 Weiss Dec. 1, 1914 1,540,140 Ohnstrand June 2, 1925 1,930,856 Mioton Oct. 17, 1933 2,125,396 Olshevsky Aug. 2, 1938 2,134,008 Sharp Oct. 25, 1938 2,308,242 Hohl Jan. 12, 1943 

